Jyotsna Pattnaik

Jyotsna Pattnaik is a Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), within the College of Education. She serves as the Coordinator of the Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on Early Childhood Education, playing a pivotal role in curriculum leadership and program direction.

Her research interests span early childhood education, multicultural and international education, father and male involvement in child development, and educational equity for marginalized children, particularly in South Asia. Her scholarship critically examines issues such as girls’ education in India, quality of schooling for low-income populations, and indigenous children's rights.

The body of her recent publications reflects a strong emphasis on global and cross-cultural perspectives in early education, with thematic trends in fatherhood, cultural responsiveness, language policy, and international curriculum models like Reggio Emilia. Her work frequently bridges theory and practice in diverse educational contexts.

She has been recognized with prestigious awards, including:

• Most Valuable Professor award, College of Education, CSULB Alumni Association
• 2009 Distinguished Alumni Scholar award, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Jyotsna Pattnaik actively contributes to academic leadership as chair of the Curriculum and Lecture Evaluation Committees in her department and represents the College of Education on the campus Faculty Personnel Policy Council. She is also a board member of the Los Angeles chapter of Pratham, an NGO dedicated to improving children's education in India, and serves on the academic advisory board for the Yadunandan Center for India Studies. Her involvement in international teacher training, including a lecture for a Chinese delegation on child development, highlights her global impact.

She holds a doctorate in Early Childhood Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1996) and previously taught at Central Missouri State University before joining CSULB.